Field codes in Word

Important: For detailed information about inserting and editing field codes, using switches, setting and changing properties, displaying results vs. field codes, locking fields, and other common tasks, see the companion article Insert and format field codes in Word 2010.

This article contains links to detailed information on each field available in Microsoft Word.

In This Article

What are field codes?

Fields in Word are used as placeholders for data that might change in a document and for creating form letters and labels in mail-merge documents.

Word inserts fields automatically when you use particular commands, such as when you insert a page number, when you insert a document building block such as a cover page, or when you create a table of contents. You can also manually insert fields to automate aspects of your document, such as merging data from a data source or performing calculations.

In Microsoft Word 2010, there is little need to insert fields manually, because built-in commands and content controls provide most of the capabilities that fields provided for many versions of Word. You are more likely to encounter fields in documents that were created in an earlier version of Word. For more information about working with field codes, see Insert and format field codes.

Security Note: Because field codes can be visible to anyone reading your document, be sure that the information you place in field codes is not information that you want kept private.